The Irish standard., 1887-11-26
RUSSIAN DEsPOTlsM.
An American Tourists Inpres sions of the
g#- (xovarn m ant.

I l = = 4
An American Tourists Impressions Of the
\ Cars Governmcnt.
1t can not be denied that in some re-
spects Russia is the greatest and most
powerful nation in the world, its ter
ritory and it's population being greater
than that Of any other On the globe. 1t
occupies more than one-half the area
of Europe, and it's vast possessions in
Asia are three times greater than in
Europe. 1t is d gigantic wonder
| among nations wiJh it's 100000 Of
square miles of territory, its 100,0 000,~ :
900 of inhabitants and its grand army
of 100000 men. But about and
around ali this glory and greatness
hangs rather the barbaric splendor Of
the Oriental than the culture and prog
ress of the European. The whole
country is an armed camp, and at
every step and every turn is soldier
in his long gray coat and broad
crowned cap, and i'll this connection it
may be mentioned that the cap is the
usual head covering in Russia, and
hats are seldom seen. Travelling in
Russia has many unpleasant features,
and one has the feeling, always, that
he is not wanted and that lie is con-
stantly being watched in all his n1ove-
ments, and the chances strongly are,
that he is right in both these suppose
tions. The Government is very strict
in all it's dealings with foreigners,
and no one is admitted to the
country without a passport which has
been vised by some Russian Consul.
And whenever the traveller arrives in
any city or stopping place his passport
must be Immediately surrendered to
the authorities It is not returned un-
til his departure, and he is not allowed
to leave the country without a permit
written on the back Of his passport.
Mine was taken from me SO frequently,
examined and duly stamped, and fee
always charged for it, that I regard it
as about the most expensive document
I ever possessed. You never know i'll
Russia likewise who reads your letters
before you get them or after you mail
them, and no foreign newspapers are
delivered until after the authorities
have read them and blotted out the
Objectionable passages with heavy
Elack ink so that they can not be read.
There is no liberty Of speech or free~
dom Of action. The Czar is absolute,
and tyranny and oppression reign
everywhere. In such country it is
not strange that Nihilism hourishes,
and if there is any excuse for the Mill
ist anywhere, it is here in Russia, and
can well comprehend that a man
might be q, Nihilist here, who in any
other country would be constitutional
agitator and advocate. The policy Of
the Government practically prohibits
any middle ground, and drives many
men finally into Nihilism, who
would otherwise he patriots, working
out the salvation Of their country jy
peaceabic melhods. Scarcely amy one
IA Russis. speaks English, and the En-
glishman is viewed with great dis
favor, all realizing that it is only a
question of a few years when the two
countries will be at war with each
other. l always took especial pains
TO let it be known that [ was all Amer
ican, and not All Englishman; French
is spoken almost entirely in the houses
Of the aristocracy, and is usually the
language Of the home among them,
rather than the harsh and irregular
Russian, but the masses are more
familiar with German than any other
foreign language. & natural result Of
the proximity of the two countries.
AS Russi;, is different in every thing,
so her coinage and measures of dis
tances do not correspond with those
Of other European governments. Dis
.ances are measured by .versts'
(two~thirds of mile), and ''arshins"
(twenty inches), and the coinage is
divided into troubles and ''ko.
pecls.' The kopeck is about one-
half cent of our money, while tAe
present paper rouble equals fifty
cents. The silver rouhle is worth
more, but coin is practically driven
out Of circulation now, as the country
is in a terrible financial condition. a:su
is suffering all the evils OF :; badly~'in"
preciated and inflated paper currency.
- Cor T,2dinnU,,0I;s Sentinel